Lakers left with hurt feelings after falling into 0-2 hole against San Antonio

If it's hard for Lakers fans to muster up confidence about the team's fortunes in overcoming a 0-2 deficit in their first-round series against the San Antonio Spurs, well, things just turned for the worse.

It's likely the Lakers' starting backcourt in Game 3 today against San Antonio at Staples Center will feature their two 2011 second-round draft picks. After receiving an ultrasound Thursday, Lakers guard Steve Blake is considered out indefinitely with a moderate strain in his right hamstring. Lakers guard Jodie Meeks received an MRI Thursday on his left ankle. The results weren't immediately available, but the Lakers doubt he will play, too.

Lakers guard Steve Nash also is considered doubtful after receiving two epidural injections in his back and a cortisone shot in his right hip Thursday.

"I'm still in a lot of discomfort, not only from last night but from getting a bunch of darts stuck in me," Nash said. "I have been called a doctor of chemistry by some in the media, but I couldn't make a prediction."

Few would predict the Lakers would become the 16 th NBA team to overcome a 0-2 series deficit and win a best-of-seven playoff series.

Not when Kobe Bryant remains sidelined with a torn left Achilles tendon.

Not when the Lakers likely lost three players in their backcourt. Not when Dwight Howard and Pau Gasol have struggled navigating against San Antonio relentlessly fronting them inside.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich may as well tell Tony Parker, Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili to stay in San Antonio to rest for the Western Conference semifinals.

"We have total confidence we can come back and win this series," Howard said. "We believe in each other. We worked too hard to get into the playoffs.

"We have to fight and get in and we're not going to give up because we're down and have a lot of guys who are injured."

As if the burden isn't already enough on Howard and Gasol to lead the team. That's a dicey proposition considering the Spurs have continually fronted them inside. Without their two main playmakers in Nash and Blake, the post just shrank considerably for the Lakers' two big men.

Howard has averaged 18 points on 62.5 percent shooting and 12 rebounds through two games against San Antonio. But he's offset that effort with 4.5 turnovers and five fouls per contest. Meanwhile, Gasol has averaged 14.5 points albeit on only 40-percent shooting.

"They're going to do a lot to keep me and Pau from getting our shots in the post," Howard said. "So guys have to be ready to shoot. If they hit those shots, it'll open everything up."

The Lakers' remaining supporting cast hasn't provided that, including Metta World Peace (hobbled by recent left knee surgery) and Antawn Jamison (hobbled by sprained right wrist). So the responsibility could fall on otherwise seldom-used players.

Morris averaged 4 points per game on 38.8 percent shooting in 14.2 minutes through 48 games. The Lakers will honor Goudelock for winning the Development League MVP this season, but he's played only a total of 12 minutes since the Lakers picked him up following Bryant's injury. Lakers guard Chris Duhon hasn't played outside of garbage time since late January.

"I don't think those guys should approach it as a tough spot," Nash said.

"I think they should approach it as they have nothing to lose. They go out there, let it rip. If they have a tough night, what would you expect from your first NBA start out of nowhere?"

But there's a reason D'Antoni sat them most of the season.

"We went to a shorter rotation because we were trying to get into the playoffs. Some guys had to play heavier minutes than normally," D'Antoni said. "Take your pick. Everybody can be rested and we'd be at the beach right now. Or we can be in the playoffs.

"You have to choose which one you want."

At this point, the Lakers are choosing to believe even if the circumstances suggest otherwise.

"It's been frustrating, but one thing this team hasn't done this year is pull an escape route," Nash said. "Everyone has hung in there, had a good attitude and nobody has bailed on the team.